by By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports

by By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports

USA TODAY Sports hockey columnist Kevin Allen offers his take on the 10 teams that have done the most during the trading season to improve their teams for the stretch run:

1. Pittsburgh Penguins: General manager Ray Shero picked up Jussi Jokinen on deadline day, but that ranked fourth among his recent trades. The Penguins showed they are "all-in" on trying to win the Stanley Cup by acquiring Brenden Morrow and Jarome Iginla to add grit and goals and Douglas Murray to be a physical presence on defense.

With Sidney Crosby injured, Jokinen probably will start as the center between Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis.

Although the Penguins gave up a first-round pick and two seconds in their deals, they retained all of their most coveted prospects.

2. Boston Bruins: After losing out on the Morrow and Iginla sweepstakes, the Bruins made a big move by landing Jaromir Jagr, who has had better offensive production this season than either of those two.

Bruins players are excited about having Jagr on the roster. He's the kind of pure scorer the team needed.

The addition of Wade Redden as a defensive insurance policy also helps.

3. Minnesota Wild: Since last summer, owner Craig Leipold has made it clear he wants to win immediately. Last summer he committed $196 million over 13 years to land Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, and on trade deadline day, the Wild added Jason Pominville, a $5.3 million player.

Pominville gives the team another proven scorer to help it measure up to the offensive might of the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks.

The Wild had to pay a big price, giving up a first- and a second-round pick, plus two prospects (goalie Matt Hackett and forward Johan Larsson).

4. Vancouver Canucks: With no premium centers available in the marketplace, the Canucks secured the best one when they acquired Derek Roy for a second-round pick and a prospect.

He could play on the second line with Ryan Kesler moving to the wing. Or, Roy could center the third line with Jannik Hansen and Chris Higgins. He fills a void on the team that has been there since the team traded Cody Hodgson.

5. Washington Capitals: After a horrendous start, the Capitals are 6-3-1 in their last 10 and are three points out of a playoff spot.

They made it clear the future is now by giving up key prospect Filip Forsberg to land Nashville Predators veteran Martin Erat, a consistent 50-plus point producer.

Erat is a skilled play-making winger and a dangerous offensive contributor. The negative is that he disappears at times. But he will be surrounded by more offensive talent in Washington, and the Capitals' hope is that he upgrades their top six forwards.

This is not a rental player. After this season, Erat has two seasons left on a contract paying him $4.5 million a season

6. Columbus Blue Jackets: The symbolism of the trade for Marian Gaborik is probably as important as the fact that he makes the team's offense more dangerous.

Gaborik is a warp-speed winger who has scored 40 or more goals three times in his career. The message to Columbus fans is that the Blue Jackets' management believes this team can compete while it builds.

Gaborik hasn't been at his best this season, but it's generally held that much of his struggles stem from the friction he has with coach John Tortorella.

7. St. Louis Blues: GM Doug Armstrong wanted an experienced defenseman to add to his top four, and he found it in Jay Bouwmeester. He is both a short-term and long-term solution. Coach Ken Hitchcock will play him in all situations.

The Blues also added Jordan Leopold, a puck-moving defenseman who can help the team's power play and transition game.

8. Ottawa Senators: By acquiring rookie Cory Conacher (nine goals, 24 points) in the Ben Bishop trade, general manager Bryan Murray has added a player who has better offensive numbers than anyone on his team.

Conacher can help now and in the future, plus the Senators get a fourth-round pick.

9. Tampa Bay Lightning: With Bishop joining Anders Lindback, GM Steve Yzerman can be reasonably confident that at least one will emerge as legitimate No. 1.

Based on this season, Bishop might have the edge. Five or six teams interested in him on Wednesday. He's 6-7 and he's a very confident puck-stopper.

10. San Jose Sharks: If you look at what GM Doug Wilson did collectively, he gave up Ryane Clowe and Douglas Murray and filled those holes with Raffi Torres and Scott Hannan. He gained two second-round picks from Pittsburgh, and second-, a third, and a conditional second-round pick for Clowe. He gave up a third for Torres and a conditional sixth for Hannan.

Adding to Torres' value: He has had a better offensive season than Clowe, who scored his first goal on Wednesday night. Hannan can play a similar style to Murray.

Honorable mention: New York Rangers. The trade of Gaborik gained them Derek Dorsett, a feisty winger who plays with heart and character, plus center Derick Brassard and smooth-skating defenseman John Moore.